Does local Govt participate in spreading the stabilized chlorine deceit?

[Water_man]

The members and readers of this forum know that habitual use of “stabilized chlorine” products such as dichlor and trichlor is bad for your pool and the problems it generates cause a vicious cycle of acquiring more and more products needed to deal with problems that could and should have been eliminated had the pool owner/operator not used stabilized chlorine products.

We’ve also learned and realized that dealers, shop owners and manufacturers haven’t done anything in order to educate the public because they would sell less products had the simple truth be known.

I was curious to find out what do public and local government authorities and offices know and recommend regarding proper use of chlorine and stabilized chlorine products. I conducted a small search which was by no means comprehensive and conclusive, but it gave me a hint of what’s going on out there. I was shocked and appalled at what I found.


Here are two “fact sheets” by two Health Departments. They both use the same document, except for minor changes. This is the

Pennsylvania Dept of Health paper.

This is the

Lincoln, NE Dept of Health Paper.


Here’s a summary of what they tell and recommend. Most of what they tell corresponds to what we know, although they are wrong about a few details (see below). However, based on the knowledge that they present, their own recommendations should have been radically different!


The facts, as they present them:

1. CYA level of 20-50 ppm is essential for outdoor pools in order to protect FC from UV degradation.

2. Stabilized chlorine products such as dichlor and trichlor are commonly used products which supply both FC and CYA.

3. When CYA levels are higher than 80 ppm the downside of CYA overrides its benefit and chlorine is less and less effective.

4. They recommend a 2 ppm FC level for proper sanitation. Here they lack the knowledge that FC level should be a function of CYA level. But ignorance is not a crime.


So what do they recommend, based on the “facts” that they present?

Stabilized chlorine products:
“Both dichlor and trichlor release cyanuric acid to the pool water. It is not necessary to put additional cyanuric acid into a pool that uses dichlor or trichlor.”

What to do when CYA is high?
"Cyanuric acid should be tested at least once a week to keep concentrations below 30 ppm.
Cyanuric acid levels should never exceed 100 ppm.
Partially drain pool and add water to reduce cyanuric acid concentration."


What about the only reasonable conclusion and recommendation that they should have come up with, namely:
“Because stabilized chlorine products continuously increase the level of CYA in the water, it is recommended NOT to use them!”

Nada! It doesn’t exist. Drain the pool and waste water!


What would you think about a Health Dept that would come up with such a “fact sheet” about cigarette smoking:

“1. Cigarette smoking is bad for your health.

2. It has been established beyond doubt that the chance of a person who smokes 5 cigarettes a day to get cancer or cardiovascular diseases is k% higher than that of a non smoker; l% for a 10 cigs a day smoker, m% for a pack a day smoker, n% for 2 packs a day smoker, and o% for 3packs/day smoker, and o>n>m>l>k, and even k and l are significantly high.

3. Therefore we recommend that one should not smoke more than two packs a day.”


Wouldn’t that be outrageously ridiculous?

Isn’t AVOIDING recommending AGAINST the use of di and tri-chlor is as outrageously ridiculous?

Is the reason for this avoidance the result of sheer stupidity or is it a conscious participation in spreading the deceit?

You be the judge.